Machine fob pressing- palm-leaf hats



CHESTER GORHAMfOF BARRE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR :PRESSING PALM-LEAF HATS. i

Speccation of Letters Patent No. 1,503, dated March 3, 1840.

To dZZ whom it may concern .Be it known that I, CHESTER Goni-IAM, of Barre, county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Pressing Palm-Leaf Hats, which improvement I have herein fully set forth and described.

This description, in connection with the accompanying drawings herein referred to, forms my specification.

A, A, A represents the frame work which supports the different parts of the machine.

B is a shaft, attached to which is a block D, made in such shape as to fit the hat which is to 'be pressed. A fast and loose pulley C is also attached to this shaft, for

' the purpose of revolving the shaft B, when I.ESIS

required. Attached to the shaft B at H, is a lever Z, whose fulcrum is at G, in a standard X. At one end of this lever Z is hung a weight lV, which by its gravity acts upon the lever and serves to raise the shaft B, and bring the block D connected thereto into contact with the boxes Z2', ZJ, o containing the heating irons. At the other end of the lever Z, is a connecting rod g, leading to a lever f, whose fulcrum is at I. The purpose of this lever f is to counteract the action of the weight 7, when required,l thereby depressing the shaft B and block D. A catch 7c serves to hold the lever f, when the shaft and block are in a depressed position.

The boxes Z, Z1', o above referred to are constructed of metal or any appropriate substance that will resist the action of the heat requisite to perform the operation of smoothing and pressing, and they are madeV in such manner as to hold movable irons,

' which are to be heated and deposited into the boxes, when the pressing of hats is to be performed. These boxes are attached to a frame E, which with the boxes ZJ', o, may be made to slide to and from the block D as occasion requires. VThose surfaces of the boxes ZJ', ZJ, Z) which come in contact with the hat are made smooth, so tha-t the boxes, when heated by the application of heated irons deposited therein, answer the purpose of smoothing irons. The boxes b and b are so arranged upon the sliding frame, that their lower surfaces shall come in contact with the rim of the hat, and the side ofthe box Z) comes in contact with the crown. This last mentioned box Z) is not immovable, but is attached to standards N N (made stationaryin .the sliding frame E) by a pin e O, on which pin, asa hinge, the box Z) may performv a -partial revolution. rThe pin O is passed through the box, Ibehind the center of the same, in order that the weight of the box may causea pressure against the crown,

of metal w, w, or the groove in which it slides may be made in any convenient manner. A lever CZ, attached to the sliding frame at l, and whose fulcrum is the circumference of a hole L in a plate M, serves to perform the abovementioned motion of the sliding' frame E. Besides the boxes Z1 o o, there is also attached to the sliding frame E, an apparatus for pressing the crown of the hat. This apparatus is constructed as follows. A box a', so constructed that a heating iron may be deposited therein, Vand removed at pleasure, is provided with pieces m, m projecting from the sides thereof, andy through slots in these pieces m, m, are passed the posts n, n, which are attached to and make a part of the sliding frame E, and they are placed in such a relative position upon the frame, that when the side o-f the bo-x o is in contact with the crown, the box z' shall be over the top of the Y block D. A cross bar .79 unites the posts n, n, and in this cross bar is formed a female screw, in which the screws 0 acts. screw is connected at P to the box z', and serves to move the box upv or down to accommodate the different heights of hats.

The box c' is provided with a lip t, projectingV from its lower side. The lower surface of the box c', and the inner surface of the lip t are made smooth, as these surfaces come in contact with the hat during the operation of pressing. s, s are adjusting screws, which act in females in the parts m, fm., and work againstY the posts fn., n. By unscrew- Ving one and 'screwing the other of these screws, the position of the box z' may be so arranged, that the circumference of thetop of the hat shall coincide with the junction of the inferior surface of the box with that of the surface of the lip t, next to the Thisrio hat, when thetop of the hat is ,in "contact with the box z', y Y c The mode of operating' the machine4 is as follows: Vhile the block D is depressedby means of the lever f, the hatJ is placed upon the block, the sliding frame E being in a position removed therefrom. After the hat is placed, thetslidingfranie is brought 'for'- Ward by means of thelefver CZ, to such a posi# tion, thatthe box i, is over theblock l). The lever f is" then .disengaged `from thecatch 70 whereby permitting' the Weight 1Wto act at the'other end ofthe lever Z, and raising `the block into contact With the lower surfaces ofthe boxes fb', b, containing the heated irons. The box i is then brought into con-V tact'vvith the top of the hatby means of the screw fo, and the lip t is pressed against the crown by means of the adjusting',- sorevvsV s, s. The boxes b, f2', b and z', being provided With heated irons, and being all inV contact With the hat, the shaft B is then pnt infmotion by meansof the pulley C, connected thereto, or in any other convenient manner, causing'the `block D With the hat thereon to revolve for a `suiiicient time, and the'` opera-tion is then performed.

' What IV claim as myinvention and dei sire to secure by LetterslPatent is- ,The combination of the boxes b, b',

l attached to the sliding frameE, the4 box z',

regulatedvby the screw 0, and the shaft B, the Whole being` constructed and operating as herein described.

Intestimony that the above' is a true description of my` invention and improvement, I have hereunto set myhand this thirteenth day of February "in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.

,onnsfrnn` GORI-IAM.

Vitnesses V SETH LEE, CHARLOTTE A. WooD. 

